Hard passagesDraft · awaiting advisor review
Are we living in the end times?
In short
In the Bible’s sense, yes: the “last days” began with Jesus and the coming of the Spirit. Opened believes the Rapture could happen at any moment and that Christ’s coming is near. But no one knows the day or the hour, and wars and disasters are “not yet the end”. The Bible speaks of the end to make us ready and hopeful, not to fuel date-setting.
The Objection
Christians have predicted the end in every generation and been wrong every time. Prophecy charts are used to back political causes, especially about Israel and the Middle East.
Put as its strongest advocates would put it.
The Christian Case
- Scripture
The New Testament says the “last days” began with Jesus and the coming of the Spirit, and that his return could come at any time. It also says no one knows the day or hour, and that wars and rumours of wars are “not yet the end”.
- Christians differ
Opened believes the Rapture comes before a seven-year Great Tribulation, followed by Christ’s visible return and a thousand-year reign on earth. Other Christians hold that the church goes through the tribulation, or read the thousand years as a picture of Christ’s present reign. They also differ on modern Israel: some see it as God keeping his promises; others hold the promises are fulfilled in Christ and the church.
- Scripture
The Bible’s purpose in speaking of the end is to make people ready and hopeful, not to fuel speculation: watch, live soberly, and comfort one another.
- Historical evidence
Many people think the end is near. In a 2022 Pew survey, 39% of US adults, 47% of Christians and 63% of evangelical Protestants said we are living in the end times.
Where the Evidence Is Weaker
Prophetic texts are among the hardest in the Bible, and sincere, careful readers reach different conclusions. Every past attempt to match current events precisely to prophecy has failed.
Arguments to Avoid
- Setting dates or naming the Antichrist.
- Treating a reading of prophecy as a reason to ignore suffering in the Middle East, Israeli or Palestinian.
- Calling Christians with other end-times views unfaithful.
Read for Yourself
Matthew 24:36–44
36But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
2 Peter 3:8–13
8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Further Reading
- Three Views on the Rapture (2nd edition) · Craig Blaising, Alan Hultberg and Douglas J. Moo (2010)Three positions, each answered by the others.
- Has the Church Replaced Israel? · Michael J. Vlach (2010)
- Whose Land? Whose Promise? · Gary M. Burge (2003)
Drafted with Opened AI and awaiting review by Opened’s apologetics advisors. Labels show the kind of support each point has: Scripture is what the Bible says; historical evidence and philosophical arguments can be checked by anyone; “Christians differ” marks questions on which faithful Christians disagree.
Next QuestionWhat about the violence in the Old Testament?